<p>Extremely Rigorous Magnet School with tough course load
7 APs (4/5s)
SAT: 740cr, 780m, 800w (2320)
SAT II's: 800 chem, 800 math II
GPA: 3.58
Decent ECs
Intended Major: Economics</p>
<p>My list so far includes
UVA
UCLA
William & Mary
Boston College
U Michigan
U Wisconsin
Virginia Tech</p>
<p>I'm obviously looking for a great school academically with a good rep, but still want a relatively fun environment when I look for it. I feel like I can have fun and adapt to almost any campus/environment so rurual/urban and big/small (not TOO small) shouldn't be a problem. I'm looking to add 1-2 more colleges - probably private to add a touch more variety. I've been throwing around
Wake Forest
Lehigh
Notre Dame
Vandy
Brandeis
Tufts
Any suggestions and any comments on those schools?</p>
<p>I had UIUC on my list for a little while but I decided I didn’t need another large state school. I don’t think I have a shot for UPenn and is there still a decent social life? Thanks for the suggestions.</p>
<p>What about Emory as well? Any more comments?</p>
<p>Given your current list of colleges, I’m assuming you are a Virginia resident, right? If so, you’d be hard pressed find a better value than either of U Virginia or W&M. IMO, these are probably the best public undergraduate colleges in the USA. </p>
<p>For other colleges that offer a great blend of academics and fun, Vanderbilt is consistently found at or near the top of the list. Academics there have long been strong and student strength is markedly higher than just five years ago. I also think that Duke and Notre Dame can be great options and, of course, the pre-eminient college in the USA for best blend of academics/social life/athletic life is Stanford. I also like Wake very much and think you’d be a lock there as well as at Tulane. And on the small school side, have you ever considered Davidson?</p>
<p>Yep, I’m in virginia. UVA or W&M is probably where I’ll end up but I’m just trying to give myself options. Thanks for the comments.. How small is davidson? I can do small but not too small. Wake is looking better and better.</p>
<p>Davidson is small-a little under 1700 students. It is more visible on the national stage than one might expect because of their very strong Division I basketball team. Compared in feel to W&M and U Virginia, it is more like W&M due to size & location (in a small town about 20-30 minutes outside Charlotte). </p>
<p>In the academic realm, and to a lesser the social realm, Wake also feels like W&M, but it sports are definitely national players and this has a mighty impact on that campus. Students there work hard and are very well respected in postgraduate circles due to their excellent collegiate training and work habits. </p>
<p>Duke and Vanderbilt are both about 6500 students or just a bit larger than W&M and about half the undergrad size of U Virginia. However, despite the similar size to W&M, both feel more like U Virginia, with Vanderbilt more so, partly due to a similarly active Greek scene. Duke’s social scene is not as strong as these two (Vandy and U Virginia), but benefits, to some extent, from what is also available in nearby Chapel Hill. </p>
<p>Both Duke and Vanderbilt will be tougher to get in than either W&M or U Virginia with their student populations similar in strength to the OOS students at the Virginia publics. However, Duke and Vanderbilt are also good on financial aid and, in some cases, very attractive with offers of financial aid. </p>
<p>Bottom-line is that these are all wonderful schools and most students have outstanding undergraduate experiences at all. Good luck.</p>